2 hrs. 10 mins
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Chinonye Chukwu
WRITTEN BY: Keith Beauchamp, Michael Reilly
STARRING: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison Haley Bennett, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thompson and Whoopi Goldberg
Sadly ripped from the pages of our nation’s history, we enter 1955 Chicago, as we meet devoted mother Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), and her adorable 14 year old son Emmett (Jalyn Hall).
When a family trip for Emmett is scheduled by his grandmother Alma (Whoopi Goldberg), to travel to see his cousins down South, Mamie begins to fret about her son’s trip, as the ways of world in the south of our country , circa 1950’s, is nothing like Emmett’s way of life at home in northern Chicago.
But, as Emmett excitement grows, Mamie has no choice but to let her son venture to see his family, and to experience their farming, and cotton-picking way of life…
It’s not long before Mamie’s fears are founded, when word comes that Emmett has been taken from his family, due to an interaction with a white shoppe Clerk (Haley Bennett), that her family hasn’t taken to kindly to…
When Emmett’s body is finally found, and is returned to Chicago, Mamie is dismayed and heart-broken by the way they have lynched and massacred her boy, and is determined for the whole world to see, the cruelty and hatred that her son endured and the hands of these mad men…
Now, with a fire in her heart, and the depth of a mother’s love for her child guiding her way, Mamie Till takes on the world around her, seeking justice for her son, in this very cruel and inhumane world…
I give TILL a rating of 5 out of 5 Stars: Danielle Deadwyler’s performance as Mamie Till is a must see, as she should should definitely be nomincated come awards season, in all the Best Actress categories. She totally embodied a grieving mother, hell bent to seek justice for her son, while keeping his tragic death in the forefront of the change our nation desperately needed, aided by the NAACP. Young Jaylen Hall did a wonderful job too, playing the fun-loving Emmett Till in this beatifully made film. Director and Writer Chinonye Chukwu did an incredible job of bringing this exceptional film to life, as it pangs with the heartache and issues that still plague our nation, as we struggle to this day regarding racial injustice, prejudice and bias. TILL is definitely one of the films this year, that each and every human over 13 years of age should see, as speaking of our past, should illuminate our present and encourage a brighter future for us all. It’s important to note too, that TILL is very powerful, and moving, all without being too expressively graphic in nature…which is why I feel that this film should be seen by the masses, including the youngsters that will be transforming this countries future. If there is only one film that you see at a theater near you this weekend, please make it TILL, as this is one of the most deeply moving films I’ve had the ability to see. You should also seek out the biggest screen near you too, so that you view this one, in all its poignancy…
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 